2007 Audi Q7 Quattro 4.2 Loaded Low Reserve!! Navigation 3rd Row, Pano, And More on 2040-cars

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Audi exec denies plans for turbo R8

Sometimes smoke doesn't lead to fire. Rumors indicated Audi might drop a turbocharged engine into the latest R8, but now a top executive is throwing a bucket of cold water onto the burning speculation. "The performance potential of this current engine means we don't need to even look at turbocharging at this point," Jurgen Konigstedt, Audi development boss for V6, V8, and V10 engines, said to CarAdvice. He also said sticking with natural aspiration offered a better sound and sharper throttle response than going with forced induction. "There is less emotion with a turbocharged engine," he said. Konigstedt admitted there was a serious discussion about turbocharging the R8. The argument just didn't win out. "If we feel that people absolutely want a turbocharged engine, then we will have to consider it," he said to CarAdvice. Audi just launched a new generation of the supercar. The 2017 R8's 5.2-liter V10 will be available in two tunes: with 540 horsepower in the standard coupe or 610 hp in the Plus. Rumors have persisted about a smaller, forced induction powerplant at the bottom of the range. Some reports suggested a twin-turbo V6 behind the driver, but others said the electrically supercharged 2.5-liter inline five was a candidate. The reason for the entry-level addition was tied to lowering the taxes on the R8 in markets like China. Related Video:

Audi Q1 captured wearing production metal for first time

Audi is getting closer and closer to introducing its smallest crossover ever in the form of the new Q1. Now, we have our very first shots of the mini cute ute wearing its production skin. Expected to make its debut in 2016, it would seem that the Q1 will follow the trend set by the Q3 and draw inspiration from the brand's Q5 mid-sizer. Proportionally, it doesn't look dramatically smaller than the Q3. The front overhang is similarly sized, although there's a smaller rear overhang and a more aggressive rake to the rear window. The front windshield looks more aggressive too, and overall, the Q1 looks to sit lower to the ground than its big brother. While it shares a number of parts with the current Audi A1, when the Q1 debuts, it won't be based on the same platform. Audi's smallest car rides on the Volkswagen Polo's platform, while our spies report that the Q1 will instead be based on the Volkswagen Group's MQB platform. Despite the different platforms, though, expect there to be some sharing of powerplants. That means a variety of gas engines, and likely a version of the A1's 1.6-liter, turbodiesel four-cylinder. There should also be an SQ1 coming shortly after the standard model debuts. You know, for all the folks demanding a high-performance, all-wheel-drive, luxury mini crossover. Check out the full gallery of spy photos at the top of the page.

Ford GT, Buick Avenir and Audi Q7 take 2015 EyesOn Design awards

The annual EyesOn Design Awards at the Detroit Auto Show allows some of the greatest designers in the world to weigh in on the best production and concept debuts at the big event each year. For 2015, the large panel of judges included luminaries like Frank Stephenson of McLaren, Ralph Gilles from FCA and Moray Callum of Ford. Apparently the editors at Autoblog had a good eye because the winner of 2015's Best Designed Production Vehicle award went to the Ford GT, which was also our favorite debut from the show. The new supercar beat the Acura NSX and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe for the honor. The judges described the Blue Oval's shape as "capturing the original GT40 in a modern interpretation," according to EyesOn Design. The Buick Avenir was also a big winner in the awards this year and received the nods for both Best Designed Concept Vehicle and Innovative Use of Color, Graphics and Materials. In the concept category, it beat out the Chevrolet Bolt and Mercedes-Benz F 015, and in the latter group, the sedan triumphed over Audi Q7, Mercedes F 015 and Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE. The Q7 received its own accolade for Best Designed Interior, and it beat the Avenir and Infiniti Q60 for the honor. This year's Lifetime Design Achievement Award went to former Renault designer Patrick le Quement, and Bob Lutz received the EyesOn Design Catalyst Award for the second time. The honor is for an executive "who has empowered great design," according to the organization, which describes Lutz perfectly. Scroll down to read the announcement with more comments about the winners. Related Video: Ford, Buick, Audi recipients of EyesOn Design Awards at North American International Auto Show EyesOn Design Awards for Design Excellence for 2015 were revealed today at the North American International Auto Show. The awards honor the most significant automotive designs revealed at NAIAS as determined by the North American and global leaders of design from automotive manufacturers, along with academic chairs of transportation design programs and design leaders from other fields.